Work in the morning slows down when it reaches lunch time. Daily affairs, making rounds, checking if a rigging has gone rogue and began eating scrap metal or each other. The normal typical and daily affairs of running the base. With this in mind, I still hurry back to my office after inspecting the warehouse. Keeping to my duties, yet I linger on less then important thoughts.

My mind is gravitates towards the chessboard in the office. And luckily, Graf Zeppelin is still there, finishing up some papers I left aside. Interestingly enough, she had a warm mug of coffee next to her. The scent permeates through the room.

I know where that smell came from. Noticing the presence, who is leaning on my desk. This third occupant in the room is the source of the amazing aroma. With two mugs in each hand. Her red sash over her white officer uniform were the first thing I notice.

"Kommadant."

"Mainz." I take time to absorb the coffee's scent, "I didn't expect to see you up at this time."

The Priority Ship cruiser hands me a mug. Her short white hair sticks out in all directions. Severe case of 'bed head'. Bags under her eyes, highlighting her irritated glare. Processing her caffeine deprived brain, Mainz musters a half-hearted grin.

"It's hard to sleep sometimes in my dorm. Hipper woke me up with her usual tirade with Eugen," She takes a large gulp out of her red Iron Blood mug, "Luckily, there is a silver lining. My coffee beans finally arrived."

"That shipment from Sardegna?"

She holds her mug high. Her grin grows real, not without another sip, "I hope you enjoy it. I took great care to brew it myself."

"Thank you, Mainz," I plop on my chair and get a gulp of the black drink. Warmed to perfection.

An acquired taste. Mainz is one of those hard liners in taking unsullied coffee. In truth, I was never a fan of this sort of caffeine before I brought her into existence. Upon her appointment as my secretary, six grueling months passed before I finally understood her love for them. Taking a drink, I smack lips and rub my eyes. The fatigue from this morning's rounds still weighing me down. The taste is unique. Richer, the color is darker and gives off an earthy aroma.

"Hmm, I like this."

"Carabiniere shipped it directly from a city in Abyssinia. A region beyond the Suez Canal from plantations off the Arabian Coast…" Mainz explains.

Graf Zeppelin chimes into the conversation nearby. She too, takes a sip, "From the source."

I look over in time to see Graf Zeppelin carry her mug to us, finishing up her papers from this morning.

"I would like to know, was it you that got him into drinking coffee?"

Mainz nods proudly, already finishing up her current serving, "True, he desperately needed it. Herr Kommadant kept consuming those cans of poison. Thus, I gave him an alternative."

I gulp at Graf Zeppelin's narrowing expression, "Poison?"

"Energy drinks," I explain, making the cruiser roll her eyes, "Mainz was my secretary at the time. An incident occurred with the drinks and Friedrich forbad me from ever drinking it again. Going as far as banning it on base. Since I work all the time, both of them thought it best for me to drink coffee as a healthier safer option."

In truth, one morning I drank one too many. Throwing up in the bathroom. Since then, she considers it her mission to ensure I use 'natural' means to stay awake. Consider it blackmail, at least I made her promise not to tell anyone else about that experience. Pouring out all those drinks later in hindsight was the best decision for my health.

"I may wish for the end, but your time has not come," Graf Zeppelin hums in disapproval, "Herr Kommadant, I hope you learned your lesson."

"Certainly," I admit rubbing my neck, "This is better for my health. Never thought I get to enjoy true Arabian coffee. Thank you, Mainz. I needed this."

Mainz hums in approval. We resume out work with Mainz sitting aside taking a few papers here and there. As part of the night crew, her responsibility is to keep reports coming through, ensuring I have an update on current events at night. For she is coffee loving cruiser, keeping a decent supply to ensure she functions alongside her staff, all of whom are others assigned to night raids and missions across the Atlantic.

Thankfully, there was not much left for the morning. Leaving only the Mainz's reports from last night. Writing my signature and reading off Siren incidents, I shove the final page onto the out pile organized on my desk. There was still a good handful left, but there was no need to rush.

Sitting back, I rub in the soreness my hands. The evening is coming, and the workload slows down. I was about to ask Mainz for another cup of coffee if she had more, before I read off the last paper. It's the daily medical report from the infirmary.

"Hey, Graf Zeppelin, do you happen to know where's Odin's reports? Specifically, from last week?"

After shuffling through a drawer and flipping a few pages, she hands them to me with a slanted stare, "Sir?"

"Odin's been sneaking in extra sorties again," I explain while reading them, "I'll need to speak to her as soon as possible. Mainz, is she still on the first rotation?"

"Yes, Herr Kommadant."

"Good, I'll be able to speak to her when she gets back tomorrow morning," I shake my head, "She really need to stop going out there when she's injured."

"Pardon me, Kommadant, her injuries?" Mainz asks alarmed, "I didn't see any on her."

"It's not physical, more like in her head," When she gives me a skeptical look, I elaborate, "Concussion. She hid the diagnosis and acted as if she's fine. I'll visit the infirmary tomorrow and speak to the staff to figure out what happened. Also, Graf Zeppelin, could you please write that down for me? I'll need to move around some appointments."

As Graf Zeppelin hastily scribbles a space into my schedule for tomorrow, Mainz visibly sinks in her chair. The cruiser blinks, "I'm sorry, Herr Kommadant. If I had known-"

I roll my eyes and muster a reassuring grin, "You know how she is. This isn't the first time she's tried to pass off her condition. Since she's still on a mission up north, I'll wait for her to come back tomorrow to speak to her."

"She's a skilled warrior and excellent tactician. The Iron Blood are industrious people but I'd rather you take care of yourselves. Loving the battlefield is one thing, going out while risking further damage is going too far."

I finish up the last of the work and shove it aside. Finally, able to fully enjoy my mug. Seeing the cruiser before me, she sat back in her chair. Shuffling through some papers and handing them to me.

"Danke, Mainz." I remove all the work and place it into a drawer in my desk.

Graf Zeppelin pips in, adapting a serious tone, "I can speak with Odin for you."

I down what's left of my coffee, "Its alright. I'll handle this. Thank you, both of you, I really do appreciate it."

Satisfied with the fruits of our labor, we enjoy each other's company in silence. Dragging out the evening with what's left of my papers. Drinking our coffee and Mainz pouring into our empty mugs. Graf Zeppelin stayed quiet during the whole exchange, simply working on her assignments before settling into her own drink. Watching the clock, I stand up and remove my coat.

"It's that time of the evening," I grin, "Graf? Would you like to play a game?"

Graf Zeppelin perks up, but her attention is drawn to Mainz. Who looks curiously at the two of us. A minute passes and I discover that I'm a third party to a secret agreement. Their unspoken conversation going over my head.

"Erm, I was wondering if I can fit a few short secessions, sir," Mainz confesses, "My shift is later tonight and I have plenty of down time beforehand, I was hoping to play a game or two before I head back to the dorms."

She awkwardly glances at my secretary, "I hope I'm not intruding on something here."

Against my own expectations, Graf Zeppelin shrugs, "No, you may. If I can observe."

In her lap is one of the extra writing pads, pens in preparation. In sync, both nod to each other and Mainz heads to the coffee maker she has in the corner of the room. She brews herself as I take a moment to stare inquisitively at Graf Zeppelin. Still possessing the neutral almost careless glare.

"What?" She questions, "We have more time later, do we not?"

She wants to stay? I didn't think she would be willing to stay longer for this. Then again, it is still early and work finished up faster then expected. It couldn't hurt to have Graf Zeppelin watch.

"If you are willing, then yes." I aired my honesty to her, not certain how to interpret this. Again, interpretation is a skill to use when it comes to her. Unsure myself, I went ahead and set up the board.

With the carrier ready and writing pad in hand, Mainz sets her mug down, "Let's get started then."

The games begins.

I make my move. The king's pawns move forward to the middle. Sitting back, I await her move. Mainz isn't the type to begin her games in a hasty manner. Preferring to think on her initial moves before deploying. She decides to face me head on. Moving her black queen's pawn forward to diagonally face mine. The Scandinavian start. Bold. That's unlike her. Maybe she wants to show off to Graf Zeppelin. I'll need to keep an eye on her pawn chains.

I send in my knight next. Swinging from the sides. Responding, Mainz slides her pawns to counteract my incoming wooden stallions. Forming two unbroken chains of fodder on the sides. Leaving the middle of the board open to whatever strategy I can form. My knights hop around the chains, until they occupy the four middle spots.

"Quite brave, Kommadant." She eyes my position, starting small talk, "You're risking your knights."

"True," I mull about, finally pushing up my pawns. Forming a wedge towards the middle. In response, Mainz develops her bishops to support the few pawns not removed from her front lines. Reinforcing her middle presence with the movement of her queen.

"Knights are my favored pieces," I pressure the middle.

Before Mainz could respond, I take one of her bishops, "Check."

Moving the knight back, she holds her gloved hand to her chin. Thinking deeply on her next move, she castles her king away from further potential checks. Spearheading my advantage, I penetrate the middle line of her forces by taking out the two biggest obstacles. Threatening the queen away and take her last bishop. Keeping my wedge from overtaking her queen. Worthwhile victory at the cost of a knight.

Cringing at her mistake, Mainz tries to mobilize her pieces around her king. Maintaining the other corner with one rook and a pawn. Unable to move them without risking anymore pieces. She downs two more mugs of coffee before making one of her last moves. Graf Zeppelin's scribbling increases as she notes down the moves and strategy.

With the few pieces she still had left, she made one of the common mistakes for any chess player: trapping her king behind three pawns. In two moves I dispatch the rook on the other corner with my last knight and charge my queen forward. Losing control of the middle and the scattering of many of my pieces. However, reforming my ranks, I take one opening and-

"Checkmate."

I let out a snort and smirk wickedly. Finding the cruiser mid-pour, drinking the last bit of coffee from her pot. Scowling at the board, she closes her eyes and huffs. Returning to her coffee and drinking the last bit of Arabian. Our spectator, darts around the board. Sketching the final moves and ending picture of our game.

All three of us take a cursory survey of the board. In the ensuing onslaught, aside my queen, I had only one pawn left. My rooks lay unused with only my queen being the piece on the other side of the board.

"You win, again, Kommadant," Her empty coffee pot high in the air, "Another victory, another loss for me."

I scoff, mockingly glaring at her, "Sour sport."

"I admit, you are correct. You defeat me in every game," She adds, shaking her head, "You love this game as much as I drink my beloved brew."

"Everyone has a hobby, Mainz," I remark, words bleeding with pride, "I am your commanding officer after all. Strategy applies to a lot of fields."

"My point still stands," Her light tone drops to a more competitive bite, "Rematch?"

"Of course."

We reset the board. Mainz gets a cup of water, something to wash down the lingering coffee on her taste buds. After letting Graf Zeppelin finishes her last page, I set off. Once more, I head out the gate with white. Charging my king's pawn forward like before. There is a certain move I wanted to see she would begin with.

There it is. Mainz moves her bishop's pawn forward one. Caro-Kann Defense. Intriguing.

Move my queen's knight forward, supporting the middle. My expectation is met when Mainz moves her queen's pawn forward. True, she is quickly capitalizing on the middle. I change things up, sending in my pawn further. Mainz pauses and look at me from across the board.

"Are you tired, sir?" Remarking on my unsupported pawn, "They may be pawns, but I didn't expect you to throw them out like this."

"I'm not like the Sirens," I mutter much to my amusement, "There's a reason I do everything."

"I didn't think there was a good reason behind you drinking all that nasty canned poison," She jabs, hoping to distract me as I move a pawn forward to support its outstretched brethren, "Ah."

"True, my reason was quite flawed, and I those days were hard on us," I mention, watching her race to stop the forming line, "I still remember Friedrich would chastise me for going overboard myself."

"Ironic, yes?" Mainz points out, I chuckle. Very true.

Focusing once more, I throw another pawn forward. Creating an unbroken line of pawns along my right-hand side. My rampart against anything she can throw towards my right flank. Using this shield, the game begins to shift again in my favor. I try to send my knight to attack through my left side, Mainz does the same by chasing the other one on my right side.

Mainz makes her way through my left. I initially attempted to connect another line of pawns to support the wedge jutting out of the right. Yet, she moved her first two pawns forward, disrupting the plans I had for that side.

Our game picks up in speed. When Mainz gets past her opening, her moves are more abrupt and immediate. Sometimes out for instant results, other times out of quick reaction. She wasn't helpless against my moves, however, as her small wedge keeps me from completely moving through the left. Splitting the middle. Thus, I carve my way right.

Despite making advances with my bishops and a knight on the right, I lose control of my finely made wedge. While the right side is filled with changing lines and positions, the left-hand side experiences a rapid increase of exchanges. I did stop her from moving through that side, I lose a line of pawns, my knight and my bishop. My queen and rook being the only bulwark keeping Mainz from checking me. The middle stayed stagnant; her own queen supported by a bishop keeps me from moving.

So, I made a gamble to end this, with my remaining knight and bishop, I push through the right. Destroying the small pawn defense, she had left with my most forward piece. Slowing down our game, I study the battle. Mainz takes a short break to drink more coffee as I plan out one more move.

Both of us had castled our kings to the right side. The three remaining pawns kept my king safe with a trapped rook. My other rook and queen picks off what's left of the right side, stand by each other. Switching to the same spots to stop me from swinging my most powerful piece over. However, I was finally in a position to move through the right.

"Check."

Mainz sets back down and sees the damage. Her previous attempts to remove the knight on my right created too many openings. Leaving her king vulnerable to different attacks. When Graf Zeppelin's writing suddenly stops, I hear her click her pen.

"That's checkmate," Mainz nods grimly, "Once more, you win. Damn, I need another cup."

"Hah," expressing my glee, "I win, huh?"

"Insufferable," Mainz lips curl into a smirk, "Don't let the victory go to your head, sir."

"Fine, fine," I relent wave a hand, briefly eyeing the clock, I get up, "Alright, here, I'll help you get ready for your sortie. Here."

Helping Mainz gather her belongings, that being her mugs and coffee bags holding the Arabian beans. She hands me an extra one for my personal use before leaving the office. Even leaving a bag to Mainz as well. Further silent words were shared and as soon as Mainz is out the door, I find myself alone with Graf Zeppelin once more.

The evening is on us once more. Young enough for the sun to set, but time shows I still have more time for one more game or two. Not liking the silence, I broach a topic with the aircraft carrier. The fact that she was willing to stay for so long and watch two games astounded me. I wonder what made her so interested in my hobby.

"Didn't know you two were friends," Making a point to the carrier, stopping her mid-setup, "I never seen you interact with her before. Outside of sorties that is. I wonder how you two came to be so acquainted."

"Mainz and I have one commonality, the taste for black coffee," Her response comes effortlessly, "Besides, my social life is my own concern, if you don't mind, Kommadant."

"Forgive me, I don't mean to pry," I mentally kick myself, Graf Zeppelin's light blush quicken my reasoning, "It's just that, I know Mainz. It's a rare thing for her to share her coffee with people that aren't close to her."

She blinks, her blush returning again, "I didn't know she thought that highly of me."

"Mainz is like you in that regard," When she doesn't appear to agree with me, I clarify myself, "You both are willing to voice your opinion if you find something wrong and aren't afraid to be honest with me. Maybe you met each other through coffee, yet there's more to that."

She ponders my words. Before turning back to me with a defeated look. A pang hits my heart when I see a sign of deep melancholy in her eyes.

"I can see she likes you more, you two understand each other well."

I attempt to find a way to comfort her. Not confident in approaching her, I decide to go for something simple. Reaching over, I place a hand on her shoulder. When she doesn't reject it, I take it as a signal to speak more.

"Hey, if she's comfortable to make some coffee for you, then there's a connection. Give yourself more credit, friends aren't always something you can come across and instantly make. Besides, you're doing well for only being here for a few weeks," I grin, "You have to spend time with them."

I let go and readjust my officer's hat, "Besides, you're spending time with me, so I can say we're well on our way to being friends, I assume?"

"Y-yes, I guess," Coughing, covering her mouth. Her blush fades under her gloved hand. Graf moves the topic along quickly, "Chess?"

"Certainly," Confirming my answer with more excitement.